Etienne Borgers (freeweb@rocketmail.com)
Sat, 16 Oct 1999 21:17:46 -0700 (PDT)
As the list seems to be in a lethargic state for the moment,
I suppose that intermissions about films are
permitted...
I recently saw '8MM' by director Joel Schumacher, and must
admit I liked it a lot, even if this film is not without some
defects.
To my surprise, when I was looking last week for more
documentation (after having seen the film), I discovered that
most of the US critics villipended it with an enthusiasm
close to pure hate... The tedious ones just despising the
film and its maker in one go.
I personally think that the subject taken for this film (snuf
SM movie making) is far from just appealing commercially, I
should even say on the contrary. And it is not a myth
(unfortunately) as some wants to believe.
So, what is so shocking for these critics...? Filming?
Cannot, as it was very good and above normal Hollywood
products. Actors? well, even if I consider Cage as underused
since a few years, and miscasted most of the time, he is
basically a great actor. Apart maybe for 5 minutes, he's
doing the most of the central character.
Graphically kinky? Give me a break... Schumacher was clever
enough to avoid that major trap. The SM scenes are grim,
debilitating, gloomy but certainly not kinky nor graphically
explicit.
The script could have been more focused at the end, about his
central idea of evil as part of the human race... yes,
certainly so. But are we sure that for instance showing Cage
for the rest of his life trapping sadistic murderers and
killing them in a way that allows him to see them die slowly,
could have been acceptable by the public at large...? On the
other hand, there were enough "clues" in the film showing
Cage was contaminated by the evil. And, fortunately! we
escape an explanation involving psycho serial killer(s) or
supernatural forces. So, maybe this is Schumaker's sin: he is
really not
"deviant-correct" with is bloody film!
And, yes the film did not go to the ultimate end of its
purpose and exploration, and it is perhaps the major reproach
we could cast. But not as the critics seem to believe, by
pointing to the 'lack of credibility' (as per their opinion)
of Cage's character. I'm convinced that most of them reacted
by fear of the real subject of this film.
There are 3 to 5 minutes unnecessary in this film, but IMO it
is a very good Noir film that could have been a great film if
a little bit more focused on its subject.
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
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